Republic First Bancorp, Inc. Reports Net Income of $1.4 Million for Third Quarter 2011

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic First Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRBK), the holding company for Republic Bank, today announced its financial results for the three month period ended September 30, 2011. The Company recorded net income of $1.4 million, or $0.05 per share, for the third quarter of 2011 compared to net income of $68,000, or $0.00 per share, for the third quarter of 2010. The Company also reported continued improvement in asset quality.

"We are very pleased with our financial performance during the third quarter," said Harry D. Madonna, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This quarter's earnings represent our strongest results since the beginning of the economic turmoil in 2008. We continue to make progress in the reduction of asset quality concerns on our balance sheet today. Non-performing assets are lower for a fifth consecutive quarter and other credit quality indicators continue to steadily improve."

Highlights for the Period Ending September 30, 2011

The Company recorded net income of $1.4 million, or $0.05 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 compared to a net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.02 per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 and $68,000, or $0.00 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Total assets increased by $51.9 million, or 6%, on a linked quarter basis as of September 30, 2011.

Total deposits increased by $50.2 million, or 6%, on a linked quarter basis as of September 30, 2011. This increase was driven by growth in core deposits of $44.2 million during the quarter.

Capital levels remain strong with a Total Risk-Based Capital ratio of 13.97% and a Tier I Leverage Ratio of 10.66% at September 30, 2011.

Tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2011 was $3.40.

The SBA Lending Team continued to established itself as a strong component of the Company's operating results through the origination of $20 million in new loans during the third quarter 2011. This team is now ranked as the #1 SBA lender in New Jersey and the #28 lender in the nation based on the dollar volume of loan originations.

Asset quality trends improved for a fifth consecutive quarter. Non-performing assets decreased by $13.0 million, or 22%, as of September 30, 2011 when compared to September 30, 2010.

The provision for loan losses decreased by 67% to $5.7 million for the nine month period ending September compared to $17.0 million recorded during the nine month period ended September 30, 2010.

Income Statement

The Company reported net income of $1.4 million or $0.05 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to a net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.02 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and net income of $68,000, or $0.00 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

The loan loss provision decreased to $0.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 compared to $1.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 as credit quality indicators continue to stabilize. On a year to date basis the loan loss provision decreased by $11.3 million, or 67%, to $5.7 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2011 compared to $17.0 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010. The loan loss provision recorded during 2011 primarily relates to updated appraisals of collateral associated with troubled loans originated prior to 2008.

The Company continues to lower its cost of funds as evidenced by a decrease of 14 basis points to 0.99% for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 1.13% for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The net interest margin increased to 3.67% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2011 compared to 3.51% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Non-interest income increased to $4.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as the Company continued to recognize gains on the sale of SBA loans during the third quarter 2011.

Net income during the third quarter of 2011 was impacted by a number of one-time revenue and expense items. Non-recurring revenue items including a $0.6 million gain on the sale of investment securities and a settlement of $0.8 million related to the resolution of a legal dispute were offset by non-recurring expenses of $0.6 million during the period. The cumulative effect of these non-recurring items to net income was an increase of approximately $0.6 million after tax for the three month period ended September 30, 2011.

Balance Sheet

The major components of the balance sheet are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Description

September 30,

2011

June 30,

2011

% Change

September 30,

2010

% Change

Total assets

$ 952,801

$ 900,892

6%

$ 946,657

1%

Total loans (net)

621,256

624,280

0%

625,071

(1%)

Total deposits

833,289

783,102

6%

825,134

1%

Total core deposits

762,275

718,053

6%

705,659

8%

Total assets grew by $51.9 million, or 6%, on a linked quarter basis as of September 30, 2011. Total deposits increased to $833.3 million as of September 30, 2011 compared to $783.1 million as of June 30, 2011. Core deposits increased by $44.2 million, or 6%, as of September 30, 2011 compared to June 30, 2011 and increased $56.6 million, or 8%, when compared to September 30, 2010 as a result of the Company's retail strategy which focuses on relationship banking.

Core Deposits

Core deposits by type of account are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Description

September 30,

2011

June 30,

2011

%

Change

September 30,

2010

%

Change

3rd Qtr

2011 Cost

of Funds

Demand noninterest-bearing

$ 126,310

$ 113,641

11%

$ 111,908

13%

0.00%

Demand interest-bearing

98,293

97,149

1%

62,536

57%

0.63%

Money market and savings

371,293

321,971

15%

335,046

11%

0.99%

Sub-total

595,896

532,761

12%

509,490

17%

0.72%

Certificates of deposit

166,379

185,292

(10%)

196,169

(15%)

1.33%

Total core deposits

$ 762,275

$ 718,053

6%

$ 705,659

8%

0.86%

Core deposits increased to $762.3 million at September 30, 2011 compared to $705.7 million at September 30, 2010 as the Company continues to focus its effort on the gathering of low-cost core deposits. At the same time, the Company reduced the overall deposit cost of funds to 0.88% for the three month period ending September 30, 2011 compared to 1.02% for the three month period ending September 30, 2010. Core deposits, excluding certificates of deposit, grew by $63.1 million, or 12%, on a linked quarter basis as of September 30, 2011.

The retail banking strategy has enabled the company to significantly reduce its dependence on wholesale funding sources in the brokered and public fund certificate of deposit market. Liquidity remains strong as the Company has also currently eliminated the need for outside borrowings.

Lending

Loans by type of customer are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Description

Sept 30,

2011

% of

Total

June 30,

2011

% of

Total

Sept 30,

2010

% of

Total

Commercial real estate

$ 393,652

62%

$ 388,081

61%

$364,954

57%

Construction and land development

52,681

8%

67,576

10%

97,095

15%

Commercial and industrial

79,162

12%

81,783

13%

79,118

13%

Owner occupied real estate

88,677

14%

81,799

13%

72,723

11%

Consumer and other

16,636

3%

16,358

2%

17,419

3%

Residential mortgage

3,175

1%

4,221

1%

5,072

1%

Deferred costs (fees)

(347)

(430)

(421)

Gross loans

$633,636

100%

$639,388

100%

$635,960

100%

Asset Quality

The Company's asset quality ratios are highlighted below:

Quarter Ended

Ratio

September 30,

2011

June 30,

2011

September 30,

2010

Non-performing assets/total assets

4.83%

5.78%

6.23%

Quarterly net loan charge-offs (recoveries)/average loans

2.08%

0.53%

0.05%

Allowance for loan losses/gross loans

1.95%

2.36%

1.71%

Allowance for loan losses/non-performing loans

39%

39%

23%

Non-performing assets/capital and reserves

46%

51%

58%

Non-performing assets trended lower for a fifth consecutive quarter. Non-performing assets decreased by $13.0 million to $46.0 million, or 4.83% of total assets, at September 30, 2011, compared to $59.0 million, or 6.23% of total assets, as of September 30, 2010. Non-performing assets decreased by $6.0 million on a linked quarter basis as well. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans increased to 1.95% as of September 30, 2011, compared to 1.71% as of September 30, 2010.

Every non-performing asset currently on the books was originated under the old bank model prior to December 31, 2007. The Company will continue to aggressively pursue resolutions for each non-performing asset.

Capital

The Company's capital regulatory ratios at September 30, 2011 were as follows:

Republic First Bancorp, Inc.

Regulatory Guidelines

"Well Capitalized"

Leverage Ratio

10.66%

5.00%

Tier 1 Risk Based Capital

12.72%

6.00%

Total Risk Based Capital

13.97%

10.00%

Total shareholders' equity was $88.3 million at September 30, 2011 which represented a book value per share of $3.40, based on common shares outstanding of approximately 26.0 million.

The Company, along with its banking subsidiary, continue to maintain strong capital ratios and are considered well capitalized under the regulatory guidelines as established by federal banking agencies.

About Republic Bank

Republic Bank, a subsidiary of Republic First Bancorp, Inc., is a full-service, state-chartered commercial bank, whose deposits are insured up to the applicable limits by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Bank provides diversified financial products through its thirteen offices located in Abington, Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, Plymouth Meeting, Media and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Voorhees and Haddonfield, New Jersey. For more information about Republic Bank, visit myrepublicbank.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The Company may from time to time make written or oral "forward-looking statements", including statements contained in this release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For example, risks and uncertainties can arise with changes in: general economic conditions, including their impact on capital expenditures; new service and product offerings by competitors and price pressures; and similar items. You should carefully review the risk factors described in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and other documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words "may", "believes," "expect," "estimate," "project," "anticipate," "should," "intend," "probability," "risk," "target," "objective," and similar expressions or variations on such expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All such statements are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company, except as may be required by applicable law or regulations.

Republic First Bancorp, Inc.

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

(Unaudited)

Three months ended

Nine months ended

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

9/30/11

6/30/11

% Change

9/30/10

%Change

9/30/11

9/30/10

%Change

Income Statement Data:

Net interest income

$ 7,639

$ 7,526

2%

$ 7,921

(4%)

$ 22,585

$ 22,841

(1%)

Provision for loan losses

616

1,500

(59%)

700

(12%)

5,666

16,950

(67%)

Non-interest income

3,955

2,076

91%

521

659%

7,158

1,250

473%

Total revenues

11,594

9,602

21%

8,442

37%

29,743

24,091

23%

Non-interest expenses

9,105

9,011

1%

7,718

18%

27,108

24,076

13%

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

509

(429)

219%

(44)

1,257%

(1,407)

(6,086)

77%

Net income (loss)

1,364

(480)

384%

68

1,906%

(1,624)

(10,849)

85%

Per Common Share Data:

Net income (loss): Basic

$ 0.05

$ (0.02)

350%

$ -

-

$ (0.06)

$ (0.67)

91%

Net income (loss): Diluted

0.05

(0.02)

350%

-

-

(0.06)

(0.67)

91%

Book Value

$ 3.40

$ 3.36

$ 3.53

$ 3.40

$ 3.53

Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic

25,973

25,973

25,871

25,973

16,109

Diluted

25,973

25,973

25,871

25,973

16,109

Balance Sheet Data:

Total assets

$ 952,801

$ 900,892

6%

$ 946,657

1%

$ 952,801

$ 946,657

1%

Loans (net)

621,256

624,280

(0%)

625,071

(1%)

621,256

625,071

(1%)

Allowance for loan losses

12,380

15,108

(18%)

10,889

14%

12,380

10,889

14%

Investment securities

159,992

168,242

(5%)

156,544

2%

159,992

156,544

2%

Total deposits

833,289

783,102

6%

825,134

1%

833,289

825,134

1%

Core deposits*

762,275

718,053

6%

705,659

8%

762,275

705,659

8%

Public and brokered certificates of deposit

71,014

65,049

9%

119,475

(41%)

71,014

119,475

(41%)

Other borrowed money

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Subordinated debt

22,476

22,476

-

22,476

-

22,476

22,476

-

Stockholders' equity

88,304

87,165

1%

90,161

(2%)

88,304

90,161

(2%)

Capital:

Stockholders' equity to total assets

9.27%

9.68%

9.52%

9.27%

9.52%

Leverage ratio

10.66%

10.67%

10.96%

10.66%

10.96%

Risk based capital ratios:

Tier 1

12.72%

12.83%

13.33%

12.72%

13.33%

Total Capital

13.97%

14.07%

14.58%

13.97%

14.58%

Performance Ratios:

Cost of funds

0.99%

1.03%

1.13%

1.01%

1.25%

Deposit cost of funds

0.88%

0.92%

1.02%

0.90%

1.11%

Net interest margin

3.57%

3.61%

3.75%

3.67%

3.51%

Return on average assets

0.58%

(0.21%)

0.03%

(0.24%)

(1.53%)

Return on average total stockholders' equity

6.17%

(2.21%)

0.30%

(2.48%)

(18.89%)

Asset Quality

Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding

2.08%

0.53%

0.05%

1.00%

3.76%

Nonperforming assets to total period-end assets

4.83%

5.78%

6.23%

4.83%

6.23%

Allowance for loan losses to total period-end loans

1.95%

2.36%

1.71%

1.95%

1.71%

Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans

38.68%

38.81%

22.53%

38.68%

22.53%

Nonperforming assets to capital and reserves

45.68%

50.88%

58.36%

45.68%

58.36%

* Core deposits equal total deposits less public and brokered certificates of deposit